Numbers 8:4 - Exposition

And this work of the candlestick. For the meaning of the details here given see Exodus 25:31 , sq. According unto the pattern which the Lord had shewed Moses,—viz; in the mount (see Exodus 25:40 ) so he made the candlestick. This has been recorded in Exodus 37:17 . The repetition of the statement in this place seems to be conclusive that these verses are out of their historical position, and that their insertion here is due to some fact connected with the original records with which we are not acquainted. It may be simply this, that these verses originally followed verse 89 of the previous chapter, and followed it still when it was inserted, for reasons already suggested, after the narrative of the offerings of the princes. Why, or how, such an admission should discredit the sacred narrative or imperil the truth of its inspiration it would be hard to say. The only thing really likely to imperil the sacred narrative is to persistently deny the obvious literary conclusions which arise from an honest consideration of the text.